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Apple Says iPhone 17 Pro Store Marks Come From Worn MagSafe Stands, Not Scratches

Store fixes are coming, with Apple acknowledging the camera plateau edges can show ordinary abrasion over time.

Overview

  • Apple told 9to5Mac that worn MagSafe display stands caused material transfer on demo units, and it says the marks can be cleaned off.
  • The company plans to remediate the issue in its retail stores, including cleaning affected phones and replacing worn stands, and notes some other models such as iPhone 16 displays were impacted.
  • iFixit and lab experts attribute scuffing on the camera plateau edges to weaker anodization at sharp corners, a phenomenon known as spalling that is more noticeable on darker finishes.
  • Testing indicates the phones resist scratching well across most surfaces, with Ceramic Shield 2 and the body holding up, while the camera plateau edges remain the primary cosmetic weak point.
  • A new teardown details an aluminum unibody with a screwed‑in battery tray and electrically debonding adhesive, a vapor chamber for cooler sustained performance, and a shift to screen‑first disassembly that keeps repairability at a provisional 7/10 but makes USB‑C port replacement more tedious.